Planning/Scheduling Lead

Planning & Scheduling Lead - Mission Critical / Data Centre Construction

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Planning & Scheduling Lead to join a high-profile mission critical construction programme delivering hyperscale and enterprise data centre projects across the United States.

Reporting directly to the Project Controls Manager and Project Director, you will be responsible for leading all planning, scheduling, progress measurement, and schedule risk management activities throughout the project lifecycle. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in ensuring programme certainty across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover phases.

This is an excellent opportunity for a planner with significant experience in large-scale mission critical, data centre, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, or advanced technology facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules using Primavera P6.
• Establish project baselines and schedule control procedures.
• Lead schedule development from conceptual planning through project completion.
• Manage Level 1 through Level 5 schedules in accordance with project requirements.
• Coordinate schedule inputs from design teams, subcontractors, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Validate logic, critical path activities, and schedule integrity.

Project Controls & Reporting

• Monitor and analyse project performance against approved baselines.
• Produce weekly and monthly executive schedule reports.
• Perform earned value analysis and progress measurement.
• Identify critical path impacts and recovery opportunities.
• Provide schedule forecasts and trend analysis.
• Support cost and schedule integration activities.

Risk & Recovery Management

• Lead schedule risk assessments and programme reviews.
• Identify project constraints and mitigation strategies.
• Facilitate schedule recovery workshops where required.
• Conduct what-if analysis and scenario planning.
• Support change management and extension-of-time evaluations.

Commissioning & Handover Planning

• Develop commissioning, testing, and startup schedules.
• Coordinate turnover and systems completion activities.
• Ensure construction and commissioning programmes are fully integrated.
• Support phased client handovers and operational readiness milestones.

Stakeholder Management

• Present schedule status and recovery plans to senior leadership.
• Engage directly with clients, contractors, consultants, and supply chain partners.
• Lead planning meetings and schedule reviews.
• Mentor and develop project planning personnel assigned to the project.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of planning and scheduling experience within construction.
• Minimum 5 years supporting mission critical, data centre, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, or major infrastructure projects.
• Expert-level Primavera P6 proficiency.
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing and commissioning processes.
• Experience managing complex schedules exceeding $250M in project value.

ES2

Work Location: In person